---
layout: docs
page_title: Cluster Peering on Kubernetes
description: >-
  This page describes how to create peering connections, deploy services, export cluster services, and end peering connections for Consul cluster peering using Kubernetes (K8s).
---

# Cluster Peering on Kubernetes

~> This page covers features that are currently in _technical preview_. Features and functionality are subject to change. You should never use the technical preview release in secure environments or production scenarios. Features in technical preview may face performance and scaling issues, with limited support options available.

To establish a cluster peering connection on Kubernetes, you need to enable the feature in the Helm chart and create custom resource definitions for each side of the peering.

The following Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) are used to create and manage a peering connection:

- `PeeringAcceptor`: Generates a peering token and accepts an incoming peering connection.
- `PeeringDialer`: Uses a peering token to make an outbound peering connection with the cluster that generated the token.

## Prerequisites

To create and use cluster peering connections with Kubernetes, you need at least two Kubernetes clusters running in a flat network with Consul on Kubernetes v. 0.45 or later.

### Helm chart configuration
To establish cluster peering through Kubernetes, deploy clusters with the following Helm values.

```yaml
global:
  peering:
    enabled: true
connectInject:
  enabled: true
meshGateway:
  enabled: true
  replicas: 1
```

## Create a peering connection

To peer Kubernetes clusters running Consul, you need to create a peering token and share it with the other cluster.

1. In “cluster-01,” create the `PeeringAcceptor` custom resource.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="acceptor.yml">

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: PeeringAcceptor
    metadata:
      name: cluster-02 ## The name of the peer you want to connect to
    spec:
      peer:
        secret:
          name: "peering-token"
          key: "data"
          backend: "kubernetes"
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the `PeeringAcceptor` resource to the first cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl apply -f acceptor.yml
    ````

1. Save your peering token so that you can export it to the other cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl get secret peering-token -o yaml > peering-token.yml
    ```

1. Apply the peering token to the second cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl apply -f peering-token.yml
    ```

1. In “cluster-02,” create the `PeeringDialer` custom resource.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="dialer.yml">

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: PeeringDialer
    metadata:
      name: cluster-01 ## The name of the peer you want to connect to
    spec:
      peer:
        secret:
          name: "peering-token"
          key: "data"
          backend: "kubernetes"
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the `PeeringDialer` resource to the second cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl apply -f dialer.yml
    ```

## Deploy and export cluster services

1. For the service in “cluster-02” that you want to export, add the following [annotations to your service files](/docs/k8s/annotations-and-labels#consul-hashicorp-com-connect-service-upstreams).

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="backend-service.yml">

    ```yaml
    ##…
    annotations:
      "consul.hashicorp.com/connect-inject": "true"
      "consul.hashicorp.com/transparent-proxy": "false"
    ##…
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. In “cluster-02,” create an `ExportedServices` custom resource.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="exportedsvc.yml">

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: ExportedServices
    metadata:
      name: default ## The name of the partition containing the service
    spec:
      services:
        name: backend-service ## The name of the service you want to export
        consumers:
          peerName: cluster-01 ## The name of the peer that receives the service
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Create service intentions for the second cluster.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="intention.yml">

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: ServiceIntentions
    metadata:
      name: backend-deny
    spec:
      destination:
        name: backend-service
      sources:
       - name: "*"
         action: deny
       - name: frontend-service
         action: allow
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the service file, the `ExportedServices` resource, and the intentions to the second cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl apply -f backend-service.yml; kubectl apply -f exportedsvc.yml; kubectl apply -f intention.yml
    ```

1. To confirm that you peered your clusters, in “cluster-01,” query the `/health` HTTP endpoint.

    ```shell-session
    $ curl "localhost:8500/v1/health/connect/backend?peer=cluster-02"
    ```

1. For the services in “cluster-01” that you want to access the “backend-service,” add the following annotations to the service file.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="frontend-service.yml">

    ```yaml
    ##…
    annotations:
      "consul.hashicorp.com/connect-inject": "true"
      "consul.hashicorp.com/transparent-proxy": "false"
      "consul.hashicorp.com/connect-service-upstreams": "backend-service.svc.cluster-02.peer:1234"
    ##…
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the service file to the first cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl apply -f frontend-service.yml
    ```

1. Run the following command and check the output to confirm that you peered your clusters successfully.

    ```shell-session
    $ curl localhost:1234
    {
        “name”: “backend-service”,
        ##…
        “body”: “Response from backend”,
        “code”: 200
    }
    ```

## End a peering connection

To end a peering connection, delete both the `PeeringAcceptor` and `PeeringDialer` resources.

To confirm that you deleted your peering connection, in “cluster-01,” query the `/health` HTTP endpoint. The peered services should no longer appear.

```shell-session
$ curl "localhost:8500/v1/health/connect/backend?peer=cluster-02"
```